Former British Olympic Association chief executive to work for Madrid 2020

February 19 - Madrid 2020 has received a timely boost in advance of next month's visit by International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors, with the announcement that a former chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA) is to support the bid as a consultant.

Simon Clegg - whose 11-year stint at the BOA included both the period of London 2012's winning campaign and the British team's unexpectedly impressive medals haul at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing - has been engaged by the City of Madrid.

Having departed the BOA in 2008, Clegg moved into football, undertaking a similar role at Ipswich Town, a second-tier English club; however, he recently left this post after four years.

Clegg said he was "delighted and flattered" to be invited to join the Madrid team.

He added: "They have an excellent bid, founded on utilising a significant number of existing venues and have made really positive enhancements to their previous consecutive bids for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.

"The indisputable economic impact of London 2012 to the UK demonstrates just what a positive financial driver hosting the Games can be for a country and I look forward to helping Madrid secure a positive outcome over the remaining months of the campaign."

Victor Sánchez, Madrid 2020 chief executive and secretary general of the Spanish Olympic Committee, said that Clegg remained a "hugely respected figure within the Olympic Movement.

"His experience of managing British athletes at 12 Olympic and Olympic Winter Games, six as Team GB's Chef de Mission, including the best British performance for 100 years in Beijing, coupled with his deep involvement in the bid process, means that he brings to us an almost unique perspective."

The IOC's Evaluation Commission is scheduled to visit the Spanish capital second of the three bid cities from March 18 until 21.

This is after Tokyo (March 4-7), but before Istanbul (March 24-27).

The Commission is to be chaired by Britain's Sir Craig Reedie, who served as BOA chairman for much of the period that Clegg was chief executive.

The winner of the contest to follow Rio de Janeiro as Summer Games host will be decided on September 7 at the IOC's Session in Buenos Aires.

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About the author

Duncan Mackay is the editor of insidethegames.biz. Awards include British Sports Writer of the Year in 2004, British News Story of the Year in 2004 and British Sports Internet Reporter of the Year in 2009. Mackay is one of Britain's best-connected journalists and during the 16 years he worked at The Guardian and The Observer he regularly broke a number of major exclusive stories, including the news that British sprinter Dwain Chambers had tested positive for banned performance enhancing drugs.

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